Manna from Heaven Preschool Park (Lar Maná) + 

Mozambique Update

We're so excited to have the preschool park ready for use.

The only equipment lacking is a saucer swing, which we have been unable to get here. Our plan is to bring one in from the USA. We also still plan to put tiles on the back wall as well. 

The children can do sensory activities, paint in the covered area, and play on the outside toys. 

This covered space is equipped for sand and water sensory play and painting in the rain or sunshine while outside in the fresh air.

MOZAMBIQUE UPDATE from our attempt to send 

Bible class materials to the church in Mozambique...

This was a test we did a few months ago to see if we would be able to send teaching aids. Books have been sent successfully so we were hoping for the same result. To date the materials are registered on the postal site as having been received, however, Armindo, our contact, has not seen them. He has the option of using our website:

escolabiblicainfantil.com.br 

Downloading and using a printer or copier are complicated where they live in Africa. We are talking about sending another test from the USA and see if that works for them. 

Bible Classes for Children...the heartbeat of a church

 

The church in Candeias has been meeting in rented, large one-room facilities that have not been conducive to children's Bible classes for some years now. They are one month into a spacious new place and are excited to get their Bible class program set up. Last Saturday Edneia (middle in orange), a teacher, held a workshop to train those interested in being involved.

Amanda said it well this morning in her post about their new congregation:

"I believe you can see the heartbeat of a church through the way they love your children."

Manna from Heaven Preschool (Park Update + Mozambique)

 
We've started with Phase Two of the Educational Park for Young Kids.

First step: Painting the wall. After getting that sealed, the next step will be a shelf in the pavilion to store materials and then furnish it with tables and chairs for outdoor learning activities.

The plan is to have the park finished by May.

The rainy season (winter) has started early this year so everything will have to be done when the weather permits. Rains not only hamper the actual work but also there is the logistical side of access to the children's home when the rains cause flooding and huge potholes on the roads. 

Mozambique...

    Because most of you reading this know that my ministry in Brazil has a lot to do with children I will add this opportunity that we have been given. We had a student at EBNESR from Mozambique (a Portuguese-speaking country). He graduated and after he returned home he was able to negotiate a building to use to teach the Let the Bible Speak course and start a congregation. Recently he asked if I could send him Bible class materials. They do not have a copy machine convenient to where he lives and he only has a small printer for his computer. It has long been my dream to develop a children's Bible class curriculum to be made available in these cases. I would love to have culturally sensitive material available to the congregations who need it. Meanwhile, I put together some things to mail to them as a test of the mailing system. I downloaded materials from the site that I have contributed to together with Evelyn, one of our evangelists' wives from the church in Boa Viagem. She is a tech genius!   www.escolabiblicainfantil.com.br  

Children in Bible class/Mozambique

 Materials for Bible class

Preschool Maná do Céu 2023

 

The Maná do Céu preschool on the children's home campus develops more each year. Ana, the director, actively seeks for and applies for grants to pay most of the expenses incurred and donations cover the rest. 

2023 will see the expansion of the program to include an afternoon session for the younger children. The "older" ones (2 1/2-3 years old) will continue in the mornings. This allows for differentiated teaching and more opportunity for appropriate developmental activities.

Included in their afternoon session for tutoring and doing homework the school age children will have a time for reading one-on-one with a teacher twice a week. The purpose is to promote reading for fun and thus increase the children's desire to read as well as fill gaps in their reading skills. We also have a devotional time for the children each week to introduce them to the Bible using stories, songs and activities.

There was a training session for the teachers last week with tips on how to work with the children's reading program as well as ideas for the preschool curriculum. This program will begin when public school classes start on Feb. 2. (Brazilian school year is by calendar year). 

Educational Team of the LAR Maná

Young Children's Educational Park

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Grandma Charlene's Educational Program 2022

 Charlene Wade Children's Fund

We are happy to share these pictures of the remodeled educational building at the LAR Maná Children's Home. 

The classroom space for the Manna from Heaven Preschool is on the right and a study room with bathrooms for the older children on the left. 

The preschool has a kitchen area for snack time and a bathroom/changing area. This is a great improvement over our original space.

This is the new park area for the younger children. There is space for them to play safely as well as a covered outdoor classroom with a sink for rainy days and painting activities. 

Our deepest thanks to all who contributed to mom's fund to make this space a reality for the children at LAR Maná. It will serve as a safe, comfortable place for many children in years to come.

We especially want to recognize the director of the LAR for overseeing the remodeling project and for her love, vision, and dedication to the many facets of caring for these children as they transition through the home. 

Ana Valeria Sande

www.larmana.org.br

Grandma Charlene's Educational Program

The LAR Maná, under the direction of Ana Valeria Sandes, has developed an educational program for the children. This program was named after mom, in memory of her interest and support as she kept up with and encouraged the children's home from afar. 

The educational program began with one part-time special education teacher. From there the Manna from Heaven (Maná do Céu) preschool was started for the young children ages 2-3 who were not included in the preschool programs in the area's public schools, and thus two more part-time teachers/educators.  

The pandemic caused school shutdowns with virtual learning which opened up an unprecedented need for educational support for all the children at the children's home. So this school year (2021) we were able to initiate a team for the school-age children (ages 4-12). The school year in Brazil runs from February to November.

As the program expands, the educational staff is now composed of one special education teacher, two teachers, one assistant teacher, and two student teacher interns. Our children are blessed to be able to count on this team to provide the support and instruction they need with their online classes.

Along with the childrens' secular education, we have a daily devotion: Momentos com Deus/Moments with God opportunity. One of our student teachers directs this program. Our opportunity to teach Bible truths to the children is very limited and we have the goal of planting the seeds of faith before they are transitioned to the next phase of their lives.

We are currently remodeling the former administration building into an educational complex and adding an outdoor multiuse space to the area. We are so grateful to all who contributed to the Charlene Wade Children's Fund which is being used for this project along with a children's park area.

(Before the remodeling project)

Mom's 90th Birthday

🎝  🎜  Happy Birthday to you..... 🎝  🎜

September 6, 2020, was Mom, Mema, "Gramma Charlene"'s 90th birthday. She was not feeling well that week so our celebration with her was through her window with balloons and fruit kabobs and cake balls for the nursing staff at The Manor. 

Her adopted "grandchildren" at the Lar Mana Children's Home in Brazil, however, went all out with cake, games, and fun to celebrate her day. In turn, she gave each of them a present for her birthday. It was what made her the happiest:  to give love and security to these children through projects, toys, stuffed animals, books, and ice cream as well as donations to the home through the last few years. She knew many by name through pictures and asked about them frequently.

Mom passed away on Nov. 24, 2020, from complications with Covid. 

Obituary for Charlene Bullard Wade

(Card from flowers above:   To our American Grandmother, in appreciation for all of the love and care you have given us over the years. We love you! From the children and staff of the LAR Mana Children's Home, Paulista, Brazil)

Charlene Bullard Wade, 90, passed from this life on November 24, 2020. She leaves a daughter, Kathy Short (Randy) of Recife, Brazil, and two sons, Randy (Beverly) of Memphis and Philip (Kris) of Greenbrae, CA. She leaves eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, James Edwin Wade. She worked as a secretary for UT Dental School. She loved her family and deeply cared for children. She was the preschool coordinator at Macon Rd. Church of Christ for 15 years and later volunteered in the educational resource room at Germantown Church of Christ. In recent years, she provided much encouragement through projects for the children at the LAR Maná Children’s Home in Paulista, Brazil, where the children know her as their American grandmother. The family would like to express its gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff at Kirby Pines, Caring In-Place and to Crossroads Hospice for their loving care. The immediate family will unite for a funeral service Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:30. The family requests that instead of flowers memorial donations be sent to HopeWorks, Agape, or to benefit the LAR Maná children’s home: (Bellevue Church of Christ, 7401 HWY. 100, Nashville, TN. 37221, Attn: Larry Smith/Recife Children's Home)

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We are in the process of developing a park for the Lar Mana do Céu Nursery/Preschool with the contributions made to the Charlene Wade Children's Fund. 

We hope to have it completed by the time school returns on Feb. 2, 2020. Since this nursery/preschool is located on the campus of the children's home we have not had to close due to covid19 restrictions. 

We will be posting pictures of the park as it is completed.

The photo above: Children from the Nursery/Preschool working with the letter "U".